SCAPA Legislative Update - March 2022
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SCAPA Legislative Update - March 2022
Submitted by Sunnie Harmon and John DeWorken, LobbySC
LobbySC Week 9 Highlights
Road Funding Champion Retiring
Representative Gary Simrill (R-York) announced his retirement this week. Beyond shepherding the road funding bill through the Legislature, Simrill, a 30-year veteran in the House of Representatives, was known to be one of the business community’s fiercest champions, often using his skills to push policy to promote jobs and economic development.
Please join the SCAPA Board in thanking Representative Gary Simrill for his impactful tenure in the General Assembly.
House Begins Consideration of State Budget
The House of Representatives is set to debate the State’s budget. Some of the highlights of the House plan are as followed:
- $120M in recurring funds for a State match to draw down Federal funds, which will:
- Enhance the 2018 10-year plan
- Address gaps like urban congestion and rural access
- Increase focus on bridges, paving, and widening
- $176M for rural Interstate funding
- $250M for County Transportation Funds
- $453M for two Interstate projects to:
- Widen 70 miles of I-26
- Widen 333 miles of I-95
Senate Passes Bill to Cut Taxes
The Senate passed S.1087, a bill that would provide for the following:
- Reduces the State’s income taxes to 5.7% from 7%
- Reduces manufacturers’ property tax to 6% from 9%
- Provides $1B in tax rebate checks to all citizens who file an income tax return, ranging from $100 per tax filer to $700
- To recruit more skilled workers to South Carolina, the bill eliminates income taxes on military retirement income
Governor, House Leaders Unveil Tax Cut Plan
With the positive news from the BEA that the 2023 budget should increase by $621M, Governor McMaster and House leadership joined together in a press conference earlier this month to put forth a $1B plan to reduce the State’s income tax to 6% from 7%. The first one-half percent will be immediate, using the announced $621M in new revenue, while the second one-half percent will be phased in over the next five years to 6%. The plan also eliminates military retirement income from being subjected to State income taxes.
DHEC Reform Advancing
The Senate Medical Affairs Committee passed S. 2, a bill by Senator Harvey Peeler (R-Cherokee) that would reorganize the SC Department of Health & Environmental Control (DHEC) into two cabinet agencies. With the passage of this bill, the Department of Environmental Services and the Department of Behavioral and Public Health would be established.
The new Department of Environmental Services would oversee all environmental services currently overseen by DHEC and the Water Resource Division currently under the Department of Natural Resources. The current SC DHEC Director of Environmental Affairs would become the interim director of the new Department of Environmental Services.
The new Department of Behavioral and Public Health would take on all health functions currently overseen by DHEC, as well as the Department of Mental Health and the Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services (DAODAS).
SC DHEC’s current Director would become the interim director of this new cabinet agency.
Finally, DHEC’s food and safety division minus shellfish would move to the Department of Agriculture. If this bill were to become law this year, then it would take effect June 30, 2023. The full Senate is expected to take this bill up in the coming days.
Senate Passes Hands-Free Driving Bill
The Senate passed S. 248 by Senator Tom Young (R-Aiken) that prohibits driving while holding a mobile device or other device in one’s hand. A driver would not be allowed to text, read, talk or watch videos on a mobile electronic device. The driver would be able to use voice commands to activate a mobile device. Those in violation of this may receive two points on their license.
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Sunnie Harmon & John DeWorken
LobbySC
Sunnie Harmon
864.337.1584
Sunnie@LobbySC.com
John DeWorken
864.905.5529
John@LobbySC.com
